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CNN Saturday Morning News
NBA All-Star Game Gets Under Way Sunday
Aired February 08, 2003 - 09:54 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The 52nd annual NBA All Star game tips off on Sunday. But it's the events leading up to the game that seem to be drawing the most interest. Marina Kolbe with that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARINA KOLBE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Five-time Grammy- nominated singer Ashanti helped get Atlanta in the NBA All Star groove by headlining a concert for a good cause. She's one of many celebrities in Atlanta this weekend looking forward to seeing the NBA's best hoop it up.
ASHANTI, SINGER: It's going to be hot.
KOLBE: And just like thousands of fans packing the stands, artists like D.M.C. and the Outlaws plan to root for their favorites.
DARRYL MCDONALD, RUN D.M.C.: You got all these young cats out there, and they're doing a good thing, but Michael Jordan, he came back to the game, and he's still getting it. You know what I'm saying? He's still getting busy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Latrell Sprewell (ph), all the greats.
KOLBE: Boxing champ Evander Holyfield is hosting one of these celebrity events. He's raising money for a $20 million youth center to take underprivileged kids off the streets.
EVANDER HOLYFIELD, BOXER: I want them to believe that they can make it. You know, if I could make it, they can too.
KOLBE: It's a theme many celebrities repeated.
ASHANTI: Always, always follow your dreams. Don't ever let anyone discourage you, no matter what it is. If you want to be a doctor, if you want to plant trees, if you want to be a brain surgeon, always follow what's in your heart.
KOLBE: Other sports stars expect that history will be made this weekend.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Definitely, I mean, you have living legends playing, you know, with the Michael Jordans and all the other people here. And, I mean, just in my lifetime, I'm going to see that, and when I have kids one day, to be able to tell them, I was there. KOLBE (on camera): All Star weekend isn't just about big hoops and big stars. It's big business too. An estimated 3.1 billion people worldwide are expected to tune in to Sunday's game, and companies like Nike and Reebok are using the event to launch new lines of clothing and the all-important shoes.
Marina Kolbe, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 8, 2003 - 09:54 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The 52nd annual NBA All Star game tips off on Sunday. But it's the events leading up to the game that seem to be drawing the most interest. Marina Kolbe with that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARINA KOLBE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Five-time Grammy- nominated singer Ashanti helped get Atlanta in the NBA All Star groove by headlining a concert for a good cause. She's one of many celebrities in Atlanta this weekend looking forward to seeing the NBA's best hoop it up.
ASHANTI, SINGER: It's going to be hot.
KOLBE: And just like thousands of fans packing the stands, artists like D.M.C. and the Outlaws plan to root for their favorites.
DARRYL MCDONALD, RUN D.M.C.: You got all these young cats out there, and they're doing a good thing, but Michael Jordan, he came back to the game, and he's still getting it. You know what I'm saying? He's still getting busy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Latrell Sprewell (ph), all the greats.
KOLBE: Boxing champ Evander Holyfield is hosting one of these celebrity events. He's raising money for a $20 million youth center to take underprivileged kids off the streets.
EVANDER HOLYFIELD, BOXER: I want them to believe that they can make it. You know, if I could make it, they can too.
KOLBE: It's a theme many celebrities repeated.
ASHANTI: Always, always follow your dreams. Don't ever let anyone discourage you, no matter what it is. If you want to be a doctor, if you want to plant trees, if you want to be a brain surgeon, always follow what's in your heart.
KOLBE: Other sports stars expect that history will be made this weekend.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Definitely, I mean, you have living legends playing, you know, with the Michael Jordans and all the other people here. And, I mean, just in my lifetime, I'm going to see that, and when I have kids one day, to be able to tell them, I was there. KOLBE (on camera): All Star weekend isn't just about big hoops and big stars. It's big business too. An estimated 3.1 billion people worldwide are expected to tune in to Sunday's game, and companies like Nike and Reebok are using the event to launch new lines of clothing and the all-important shoes.
Marina Kolbe, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
